You are introducing someone to Trek for the first time -- which episode do you show them?

I can't really offer advice like this, because which episode appeals to a certain person really depends on the sort of person they are. Took my wife YEARS of me having never watched Doctor Who before she figured out the perfect episode to pull me in with (11 in "The Beast Below.") On the other hand, It took me just a few months before I was able to bring her to Babylon 5 with a "Mind War / War Prayer" double feature.

So I could only ask you, based on your analysis of this friend's personality, what kind of episode do you think would appeal to them?

 

Actually, I think I'd probably show them Star Trek Beyond first. It's a good enough sci-fi/action "general audience' movie, but it also has a lot of the TOS spirit. It's kind of the best of both worlds. If they're still interested, then maybe I might start diving into the shows.

 

Exactly. To the usual passerby, Star Trek, is a very niche in-group, with quite a lot of baggage associated with it, & a lot of it depends on the viewer already being invested in it, or at least the concept, or sci-fi in general. So to introduce someone to it, is harder than just introducing someone to a regular show, like Breaking Bad or Dexter. You are also introducing them to WHAT Star Trek is, as well as introducing them to a series, & because Star Trek is so famous, almost everyone already has an interpretation of what it is, & if they've never seen it, it may be completely at odds with how the show actually plays, especially considering how dissimilar the two most well known examples are, TOS & TNG.

It also depends on the person you are sharing it with. I've shared it with people who I know like old classic movies & such, so I know they're more open to the style of TOS. One of my favorite offerings from that show, in this event, would be City on The Edge of Forever. That it is slightly removed from the 22nd century environment helps it for this purpose, while still having quite a lot of sci-fi & time travel aspects. Plus, I find it's one of Shatner's more subtle performances (Some of which can be off-putting to 1st time viewers)

If I know the person DOESN'T like old movies etc... I'd be more inclined to use a quality meat & potatoes TNG episode. Timescape is good. The Hunted isn't bad either. I even like The Enemy

 

I am in the process of telling some new friends about Star Trek and I would like to get them to find sometihng in it that they might like, and perhaps become interested. But I don't know what series is the best to show to give them that good first impression. I have been told that "Encounter at the Far Point" would be the way to go, but first of all, I tried that with a friend in a nearby city, but they did not like it. Also I have seen a post here that discusses that the first seasons of TNG ar not good at all. (I like it though). So any good tips?

 

I'll restrict myself to just DS9, and it's probably because I'm re-watching it while Discovery is on as well.
I'd pick 'Duet' from DS9 season 1. 2 characters in a room is all it is for an hour and it's incredible. I would easily put this episode in a list of best Trek ever too.

 

For TNG, I'd start them off with "Matter of Honor." Riker has to prove himself in a hostile environment and wins the respect of his comrades. This is an excellent theme to introduce the series to someone new, I feel. Have confidence in yourself. Take on challenges that you know will be difficult and push beyond your comfort zone. Reach out for new experiences. All of these nuggets of truth are a great foundation for any kind of story, especially one that's so make-believe. It also features aliens that a non-Trekkie would likely have heard the name of, before, so it's got that sci-fi element to it, where it's all futuristic and otherworldly, which drives the imagination. And ... last, but not least, the story features and revolves around a champion -- a real champion!

 

I would go with "Where No One Has Gone Before". It's kind of a second pilot for TNG and almost like a mission statement for the franchise. On the other hand, it has way too much Wesley.

 

Last year I introduced a friend to Trek by starting with Wrath of Khan. She knew I was a serious Trekker and I often described to her what Trek in it's various incarnations is about and what it means to me and many other people around the world, which she found kinda interesting. Her initial idea of Trek, from hear-say AND mixing it up with multiple franchises, has been that it was more of a childrens show with a lot of *pew-pew* and funny Aliens.

After finishing Wrath of Khan she was obviously surprised that it was a rather serious movie. Themes like getting older, revenge, friendship and loss didn't skip by her, and she seemed to like the crew.
So she was open for more (the inception worked) and next were ST III, IV and VI, over the time of two weeks. No need to rush things.

Right now we 're mid-season seven of TNG and mid-season two of DS9. It's become something of our routine after work where we watch one or two episodes of each series together. She really likes both crews, but I think she actually prefers Deep Space Nine now, because she loves the Odo & Quark dynamic, likes the Ferengi (!) and is really looking forward to when Worf gets stationed at DS9 (Worf is her favourite on TNG). And she's always on the look-out for Morn and asking how he can afford to spend so many hours at Quarks and if he doesn't have a job or a wife!
Also, she works as a personnel coach, so she is obviously intrigued by the differing but effective commanding styles of Picard and Sisko, she really looks out for how both manage and handle conflict situations.

 

STNG episodes 'Who Watches The Watchers' and 'The Defector' maybe?

 

Probably Shades of Grey or The last outpost ... I like to feel special as a trek fan so I don't want too many people to get into it

Seriously though, I wouldn't know exactly. Would also depend on my goal. If I just wanted to show them 'neutrally' what trek (TNG) is about at its core, perhaps I'd select Darmok. But I might select a more 'blockbuster' episode if I just wanted to get them hooked.

 

I'd start with Wrath of Khan. Its a sensible movie and links back to TOS.

 

It's funny, I have a friend who I introduced Star Trek to through TMP. She watched the whole thing with me, and claimed to find it very interesting.

In stark contrast, years earlier (before the 2009 film) I made the mistake of showing Nemesis to my high school Science Fiction club (I figured they'd like the big space battle and, being the latest film, I wanted the best special effects available), and they HATED it*. So definitely Nemesis is a bad introduction. I learned that the hard way.

As for my recommendation, my fandom began with Best of Both Worlds. Can't go wrong there!

*Some of my friends from my high school club would go on to watch the 2009 Star Trek. One of them has stated he never liked any Star Trek whatsoever until the 2009 film, and says now he'd go back and watch any of them and be able to enjoy them. I guess he just needed an introduction?

 

My first thought clicking onto the thread was "Duet": little introduction needed, excellent episode.
But as someone pointed out, it's not a good idea to start with the best. Need something more average, so long as it's introduced as "average".

So, "Conundrum". There's even bonus value in that one: if you don't know the series, you don't know McDuff is a plant.

 

“The Gamesters of Triskelion“, probably. It has quatloos, and its general weirdness sums up the sort of thing that went on in TOS. That, or “Space Seed”, because that has Khan, and prepares for “The Wrath of Khan”. I would seriously consider “The Trouble with Tribbles” as well. But if I had to choose, I think it would be TGOT.